Feature of the Month: Access Control Integration

Companies today are increasingly adopting robust visitor management software to avoid frustrating check-in processes and delays in registering on-site guests. What they are getting in return is the ability to give guests a red carpet welcome, an amazing brand experience and unparalleled security for the premises and its occupants. And, when it comes to securing office premises, a holistic approach is the need of the hour, especially for those offices that house sensitive areas like R&D wings or production facilities.
The Veris visitor sign-in system can integrate access control protocols, to enable selective entry of guests to sensitive areas within the office premises. This tightens security and improves productivity.

The Need for Access Control Integration with Visitor Management Software
Before the advent of electronic visitor management system on iPads or front desk kiosks and apps, there was the traditional and cumbersome paper-based visitor logs. As a result, a number of problems arose. Names were illegible at times, and contact information proved to be false. In the event of emergencies, like a fire or any other natural or manmade disaster, it was impossible to determine who were stuck inside the building, since the paper-based logs often failed to note exit times of guests. Apart from a poor company image, confidentiality issues also surfaced. In some environments, visitor records have to be kept private as per law.
With a visitor check-in system like Veris, such problems can now be tackled with ease. All critical client information is stored in the cloud, along with their ID proofs and photos, available to the admin at any time. The system not only generates digital ID badges, but also provides real-time reports to the security department, on a single dashboard, regarding visitor movements throughout the office premises and the respective expiry times.
But, in all offices, there are always two kinds of visitors, those who need to be escorted to a destination and those who don’t. The latter consists of a significant percentage of all visitors. It is not always possible to escort a person to their destination, and while a visitor management software can enable seamless flow of information between a front-desk executive and the host of the visitor, entry into restricted areas still needs to be tracked at all times. Even if there are live pre-programmed proximity cards, specifically created to grant access into restricted areas, they can be misplaced or a visitor can leave the premises with a card still in their possession.
This is why Veris system is not just a visitor sign-in system; it can integrate other third-party applications and even a robust access-control system.

Combining Access Control with Visitor Scheduling
Integration of the Veris visitor management system with access control enhances the functionality of both systems. The system can generate smart cards, along with a digital ID badge, to allow access to specific points, according to the visitor’s security clearance. In case there are certain areas that are absolutely out-of-bounds for visitors, authorized card-holders can be asked to escort a client to the area, if needed. To avoid lapses, the system has only a limited number of access groups available, so that a receptionist cannot issue an access badge by mistake.
The Veris front-desk app can also grant temporary access cards or barcode access to specific individuals. These cards have expiry times, so in case a person overstays their limits, they cannot re-enter a facility and the security team gets notified if they try.
When visitors leave the organization, they will be automatically checked-out, so even if a visitor takes a card along by mistake or if it gets stolen, it won’t be operational.
A comprehensive visitor management system, integrated with access control, can improve overall security, reduce admin costs, enable data privacy and optimize existing security assets. It is a prime requirement of all urban buildings.

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